Shropshire

Shropshire's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in health and work life.

The population reached nearly 310,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Shropshire increased by 8.1%, from just over 283,000 to 306,000.

The addition of almost 23,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Shropshire was home to, on average, 0.69 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the West Midlands' second-least densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More adults are separated from partners

This area saw the West Midlands' second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

Across the region, only Staffordshire Moorlands saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner (from 8.8% to 11%).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner, as the regional average grew from 10% to 11%.

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) people aged 16 and over in Shropshire said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 9.7% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 56% to 52%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Shropshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.5% to 5.0% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Shropshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Shropshire decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Shropshire, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Shropshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Shropshire decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Shropshire, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Shropshire

The number of people in Shropshire from the White ethnic groups increased from about 280,000 in 2001 to just under 300,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Shropshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 1,600 in 2001 to about 3,100 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,200 to just under 2,200 (from 0.4% to 0.7%).

About 580 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 340 in 2001 (0.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Shropshire remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Shropshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Shropshire

The number of people in Shropshire that described themselves as Muslim increased from just under 590 in 2001 to just under 990 in 2011. This represents a change from 0.2% to 0.3% of the local population.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from this religious group increased by from 4.1% to 6.7%, while across England the percentage went from 3.2% to 5.2%.

The number of people in Shropshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 230,000 in 2001 to about 210,000 in 2011 (from 80% to 69%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 35,000 to about 70,000 (from 12% to 23%).

Just over 22,000 people (7.1%) did not state their religion, up from just over 20,000 in 2001 (7.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Shropshire remained close to 0.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Shropshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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